Steam iron with controlled water flow



1952 R. o. STEVENSON ET AL 2,620,576 I STEAM IRON WITH CONTRQLLED WATER FLOW Filed Nov. 8, 1946 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 1?. fir/16) Dec. 1952 R. o. STEVENSON ETAL 2,620,576

STEAM IRON WITH CONTROLLED WATER FLOW Filed Nov. 8, 1946 I 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Jaw 240:7 e125 ra e, 5 e-QZWEAEZZZZ/ Patented Dec. 9,

UNITED STATE 'rr c erics STEAM IRON WITH CONTROLLED WATER FLGW' Application November 8, 1946, Serial No. 708,774

11 Claims. 1

This invention relates to fiat-irons, and more particularly to irons of the type which contain a water reservoir and which are adapted to generate and emit steam during the'ironing operation.

Prior irons of this type have had the water reservoir built in, with consequent increase in the size and weight of the iron, and such irons have been objectionable from the standpoint of dry ironing. There are times when the user desires to iron dry, and at such times the additional size and weight of the iron becomes an added burden.

One object of the present invention is to provide a combination dry and steam iron having a detachable water reservoir so that the iron may be used without the reservoir for dry ironing, and

so that the reservoir may be filled with water while it is detached from the iron, thus obviating the necessity of carrying the iron to a faucet.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for quickly and easily attaching and detaching the reservoir to and from the iron.

A further object of the invention is to provide a steam iron wherein the rate of steam generation is maintained substantially constant irrespective of the lowering of the water level during use.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a steam iron having provision for supporting the same in an inoperative position, and including means for automatically stopping the generation of steam whenever the iron is moved to its inoperative position.

Other objects and features of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a view, partly in side elevation and partly in section, of a flat-iron constructed according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the water reservoir device detached from the iron;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary bottom view showing the lower attaching means on the reservoir device;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-5 of Fig. l;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view partly in elevation and partly in section, showing the disposition of the water reservoir when the fiat-iron is in its inoperative position;

Figs. 6 and 7 are miniature side elevational views showing the flat-iron in its operative and inoperative positions; and

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the flat-iron support.

Referring first to Fig. 1, there is shown an elec- 2 tric fiat-iron l which is adapted to generate and emit steam whenever water is supplied to it from a water reservoir device 2, the latter being remova bly attached to the flat iron in a manner presently to be described@ The flat-iron I has an electric heating element 3 op-eratively associated with its sole plate, and also has a tube 4 through which it is adapted to receive water from the Water reservoir. At one end of the tube 4 there is a smaller tube 5 which communicates With chamher 5. One or more steam passages i extend from chamber 6 through the sole plate to the ironing surface thereof. During steam operation, the generated steam is emitted through the passages l to the material which is being ironed, as will be well understood.

The fiat-iron I also has provision for supporting the same in an inoperative position, as shown in Fig. 7, in which the iron is tilted upwardly with respect to the ironing surface 8. Referring particularly to Fig. 1, there is provided a support 9 (see Fig. 8) which is mounted for movement relative to the iron on a pair of trunnions I0 at the rear of the iron. A spring ll tends to urge the iron upward to the position of Fig. '7, and the support 9 is latched in the inoperative position of Fig. 1 by means of a latching mechanism within the handle I2. Whenever it is desired to effect movement of the iron to its inoperative position, the operator trips the latching mechanism by means of a release element l3, and the spring I i is then effective to move the iron to its inoperative position as shown in Fig. 7. When it is desired to resume ironing, the operator presses downward on the handle t2 and presses a latching member It with the heel of the hand, whereupon the support 9 is latched in its inoperative position. Flat-irons employing such a supporting and latching mechanism are now well known, having been sold in large quantity by applicants assignee. For example, a flat-iron of this type is disclosed in U. S. Patent No. 2,296,913 to J. C. Fagan,',issued September 29,1942. The latching mechanism in the iron illustrated herein may be of the type shown in the Fagan patent.

Referring now to the Water reservoir device 2, this device comprises a reservoir [5 carried by a support it which is removably attachable to the fiat-iron at the rear thereof. The flat iron has a pair of lower openings ll (Fig. 1) and it also has an upper recess or opening 18 to accommodate the attaching elements 'ofthe reservoir device. The lower part of support It is formed as shown at lea (Figs. 1 and 3) andslidably supports a rod i9 carrying upwardly turned arms or hooks 29 which 3 are adapted to sea-t in the openings ll of the flatiron. A spring 2| resiliently maintains the rod 19 in its normal position. At the upper part of support [6 there is provided a manually operable latch member 22 pivoted at 23 and carrying a finger 2 3 which is adapted to enter the recess or opening 18 in the flat-iron. A leaf spring urges the latch member 22 toward latching position.

Assuming that the reservoir device is detached from the flat-iron, as shown in Fig. 2, it may be attached to the iron by engaging the hooks 20. in

the openings l1 and then tiltingsaid device upward to engage the latch element 24' in opening E8. The resilient mounting of the hooks 20 facilitates the attachment of the reservoir device. When it is desired to remove the reservoir device, it is simply necessary to move the latch member 22 so as to disengage the latch element 24 from the iron, and then swing the reservoir device backward to remove the hooks 2i).

The'reservoir l5 provided with a partition 26 (see Figs. 1 and 4 which divides the reservoir into communicating upper and; lower chambers 21 and 28, The reservoir is filledby means of a filler opening which is normally "closed by a cap 29 pivoted at 39. When closed, the cap seals the upper chamber 21 against the admission of air, being provided with resilient closure element 3| which effectsthe desired seal The pivot pin or rod 30 has a flatthereon; which is engaged by the end of a leaf spring 32; carriedby the cap 2d. The spring presses the cap; downward into the filler opening and insures-a gpodseal; V

A water outlet passage 33; extends downward from the lower chamber ZB thr ughthe support H5 to an outlet port 34L (Fig 2). The outlet shown s Prov e means fanann a insert 35 which is adaptedtoengagean inlet tube 36 (Fig. 1) on the fiat iron, At the upper end of the outlet passage 33 thereisprovided a valve semi acqqmmodais. ev l e me b 38 which extends through, a tubetfi, the latter extending from the upper part of the reservoirto the partition 26. The valve member38 ,isv threadedly attached to the up 'e jl' 0f the reservoir at- 40 and has a knob 4! by means. of whichit may be manipulated By means of the valve, the water flow fromthe reservoir can be shutoff, either to operate the iron drywiththe reservoir device attached, or to prevent leakage when the reservoir device is detached fronrthe iron Air is permittedtoenter-thelower chamber 28' through an inlet passage 4?- and through tube 39 which commun'icates with said; chamber. The purpose of this will beseen' presently.

During steam operation of the iron, water enters the lower chamber 2 8-from the upper chamher 2' at the inlet to the lower chamber, and waterfiows .from the lower chamber at its outlet id. The relative dispositions ofthe inlet 43 and the outlet Mare important. 'When the iron is in its operativerpositio n, as shown in Fig. l, the outlet 44 is below thein'let 43., Air enters the lower chamber 28 through tube 39, and since the upper chamberQZTisisealed, water can only leave the upper chamber when'it is replaced by an equal volume ofair passing from the lower chamber about ,the edge of i the partition 215, The eiiective Waterheadis-always egual to the Water level in the lower chamber and this ismaintained substantially constant untilallof the water is used from the upper chamber, Consequently, the rate of steam generation is substantially constant irrespective of the lowering of the water level during use.

When the iron is moved to its inoperative position, as shown in Figs. 5 and 7, the inlet 43 of the lower chamber 28 is below the outlet 44, and the water level in the lower chamber is below the outlet. Thus the steam generation is automatically stopped when the iron is moved to its inoperative position.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that the invention provides a novel combination dry and steam iron which has the various advantages hereinbefore mentioned. Without the reservoir device attached, the iron is substantially similar in all respects to an ordinary dry iron, especially as to appearance and convenience. With the reservoir device attached, the iron becomes a steam iron but the operator may iron dry at any time merely by shutting off the Water flow. Moreover, during steam ironing, the steam generation is automaticallyv stopped Whenever the iron is moved to inoperative position. Further still, the detachability of the reservoir. device makes it easier tofill it with Water.

While the invention hasv been described with reference to. a particular embodiment, it isnot limited thereto but is capable of. various other forms of physical expression as.will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art.

We claim:

1. In combination, a fiat-iron, a Water reservoir removably supported at the rear of said iron, a steam generating chamber on said iron, an outlet at the bottom of saidreservoir in communication with said chamber, saidoutlet being disposed near the irontof said reservoir, a partition dividing said reservoir into intercommunieating upper and lower chambers, said latter chambers being in communication with one another at the rear of said reservoir, said upper chamber having provision for introducing water into the reservoir and for sealing said upper chamber against the-admissionof air thereto directly from the atmosphere,- and means for admittingair to saidlower chamber, said partition establishin an effective hydrostatic head-which remains substantially constant as the water level in said upperchamber lowers, said outlet and the inlet to saidlower chamber being-so relatively disposed that saidoutlet is above said'inlet and the water level in the lower chamber when said reservoir is slightly tilted, thus stopping the flow of water from said'reservoir to said chamber. v

2. In combination, a fiat-iron, a water reservoir removably supported at the rear of said iron, a steam generating chamber on saidiron, an outlet at the bottom ofsaidreservoir in communication with said chamber, said outletbeing disposed-near the front of=s'aid ;reservoir, a partition dividing said reservoir into intercommunieating upper and lowerchambers, said latter chambers being in communication with one another at the rear of said reservoir, said upper chamber having provision for-introducing water into the reservoir and for sealing said "upper chamber against. the-admissionof air thereto directly from 'the atmosphe're, a tube extending between the top of said reservoir and sa-id partition in substantial alignment with said-outlet,

said tube serving toad-mitairt'o said lower chamher, and an adjustablewalve member extending through said tube to said 'o'utletand serving to control the rate of water flow irom the reservoir, said partition establishing an effective hydrostatic head which remains, substantiallyconstant as the water level in said upper chamber lowers, said outlet and the inlet to said lower chamber being so-relatively disposed that said outlet is above said inlet and the water level in the lower chamber when said reservoir is slightly tilted, thus stopping the flow of water from said reservoir to said chamber.

3. In combination, a fiat-iron including means operative at the Will of the operator to support the-iron in a tilted or inclined inoperative position in which its forward end is raised a small amount so that the iron is inclined at a small angle to a supporting or ironing surface, a water reservoir at the rear of said iron, a steam generating chamber on said iron, an outlet at the bottom of said reservoir in communication with said chamber, a partition dividing said reservoir into intercommunicating upper and lower chambers, said upper chamber having provision for introducing water into the reservoir and for sealing said upper chamber against the admission of air thereto directly from the atmosphere, and means for admitting air to said lower chamber, said partition establishing an effective hydrostatic head which remains substantially constant as the water level in said upper chamber lowers, said outlet and the inlet to said lower chamber being so relatively disposed that said outlet is above said inlet and the water level in the lower chamber when the reservoir is slightly tilted by the aforementioned inclination of the iron, whereby the fiow of water from said reservoir ceases when the iron is tilted.

4. In combination, a flat-iron including means operative at the will of the operator to support the iron in a tilted or inclined inoperative position in which its forward end is raised a small amount so that the iron is inclined at a small angle to a supporting or ironing surface, a water reservoir removably supported at the rear of said iron, a steam generating chamber on said iron, an outlet at the bottom of said reservoir in communication with said chamber, said outlet being disposed near the front of said reservoir, a partition dividing said reservoir into intercommunicating upper and lower chambers, said latter chambers being in communication with one another at the rear of said reservoir, said upper chamber having provision for introducing water into the reservoir and for sealing said upper chamber against the admission of air thereto directly from the atmosphere, and means for admitting air to said lower chamber, said partition establishing an effective hydrostatic head which remains substantially constant as the water level in said upper chamber lowers, said outlet and the inlet to said lower chamber being so relatively disposed that said outlet is above said inlet and the water level in the lower chamber when the reservoir is slightly tilted by the aforementioned inclination of the iron, whereby the flow of water from the said reservoir ceases when the iron is tilted.

5. In combination, a flat-iron including means operative at the will of the operator to support the iron in a tilted or inclined inoperative position in which its forward end is raised a small amount so that the iron is inclined-at a relatively small angle to a supporting or ironing surface, a water reservoir removably supported at the rear of said iron, a steam generating chamber on said iron, an outlet at the bottom of said reservoir in communication with said chamber, said outlet being disposed near the front of said reservoir, a partition dividing said reservoir into intercommunicating upper and lower chambers", said latter chambers being in communication with one another at the rear of said reservoir, said upper chamber having provision for introducing water into the reservoir and for sealing said upper chamber against the admission of air there-- to directly from the atmosphere, a tube extend-- ing between the top of said reservoir and saidv partition in substantial alignment with said outlet, said tube serving to admit air to said lower chamber, and an adjustable valve member extending through said tube to said outlet and serving to control the rate of water fiow from the reservoir, said partition establishing an effective hydrostatic head which remains substantially constant as the water level in said upper chamber lowers, said outlet and the inlet to said lower chamber being so relatively disposed that said outlet is above said inlet and the water level in the lower chamber when the reservoir is slightly tilted by the aforementioned inclination of the iron, whereby the flow of water from said reservoir ceases when the iron is tilted.

6. In combination, a fiat-iron of the type to be tilted slightly by raising the front thereof for placing the iron in its inoperative position, a steam generating chamber on said iron, a passageway leading to said chamber and including a tube projecting from the rear of the iron near the bottom thereof, said iron being recessed at the, rear thereof below and above said tube, a water reservoir adapted for removable mounting at the rear of said iron, said reservoir having an outlet port terminating at a recess adapted to receive the projecting end of said tube, finger means on said reservoir engageable with the lower recessed part of the iron, and manually manipulable finger means on said reservoir engageable with the upper recessed part of the iron.

'7. In combination, a fiat-iron of the type to be tilted slightly by raising the front thereof for placing the iron in'its inoperative position, a steam generating chamber on saidiron, a passageway leading to said chamber from the rear of the iron, a water reservoir adapted for removable mounting at the rear of said iron, said reservoir having an outlet port, removably interfitting means on the iron and the reservoir for effecting coupling between said passageway and said outlet port, removably interfitting fastening means on the iron and the reservoir below said coupling, and removably interfitting fastening means on the iron and the reservoir above said coupling.

8. In combination, a fiat-iron of the type to be tilted through a small angle to place it in inoperative position, a steam generating chamber of the flash type on said iron for conversion of water to steam, a reservoir on said iron adapted to be filled with water, an outlet at the bottom: of said reservoir in communication with said: steam generating chamber for supplying water to; said chamber from said reservoir, said reservoir when in operation being sealed against admission of air to the upper part of the reservoir directly from the atmosphere, and means for introducing air from the atmosphere to a predetermined level within the reservoir adjacent the lower part thereof, said level establishing upper and lower zones within the reservoir, the upper and lower zones of the reservoir above and below said level being in communication with one another for passage of air from the lower zone to the upper zone, and for consequent passage of water from the upper zone to the lower zone,.whereby water is supplied to said steam generating chamber from the lower zone of the reservoir through said outlet at a substantially constant rate under a substantially constant effective hydrostatic head corresponding to said predetermined level, the place of air passage from the lower zone of the reservoir to the upper zone thereof being horizontally spaced in relation to said outlet in a position to be higher than said outlet when the-fiatiron is in operative position and lower thansaid outlet when the flat-iron is in its tilted inoperative position, whereby the tilting of the iron causes automatic'shut'ofi" of'the water flow from the reservoir. I

9. The combination" according to claim 8, further including valve means operable by the user to close said outlet during filling of the reservoir and to open the outlet for operation;

10. The combination according to claim 9, wherein said reservoir is removably mounted-at the rear of the flat-iron.

11. In combination, a fiat-iron of the type to be tiltedthrough a small angle to place'it' in operative position, a steam generating chamber of thefiash type'on'saidiron for conversion of water to steam, a reservoir onsaid iron adapted-t0 be filled withwater, an outlet at the-bottomofsaid reservoir in communication with said steam generating chamber for supplying water to said chamber from said reservoin'said reservoir when in operation being sealed against admissionof air to' the upper part of the reservoir directly from the atmosphere,- means including a tube substantially aligned with said "outlet for introducing air from the'at'mosphere: to apredetermined level within the reservoir" adjacentthe lower part thereof said'le'vel establishingupper and lower zones within the reservoir, the-upperand lower zones of the reservoir above and belowsaid level being in communication with one another for passage of air from the-lower zone to the upper zone, and forconsequent" passage of water from the upper zone to: the 1 lower zone, whereby water is supplied to said steamgenerating chamber fromthelower zoneof the-reservoir through said outlet at a substantiallyconstant rate under a substantially constant efiectiv'e' hydrostatic head corresponding to said predetermined level, and an adjustable valve member extending through said tube to saidoutlet and serving to control the rate of water flow from said reservoir, the place of air passage from the'lower zone of the reservoir to the upper zone thereof being horizontally spaced in relation to Said outlet in a position to be higherthan said outletwhen the fiat-iron is in operative position and lower than said outlet when the fiat-iron is in its tilted inoperative position, whereby the tilting of the iron causes automatic shut off of the water flow from the reservoir. 7

ROBERT O. STEVENSON.

JOSEPH W. MYERS.

C. ROGER TURNER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Numb er Nam- Date 84,538 Davis Dec. 1, 1868 362,393 Muller May 3, 1887 1,763,971 Kantor et al June 17, 1930 1,963,111 Backes June 19, 1934 1,969,583 Skolnik Aug. 7, 1934 2,091,929 Kappenberg' Aug. 31, 1937 2,237,381 Wallace Apr. 8, 1941 2,284,411 Fielding May 26, 1942 2,296,913 Fagan Sept. 29, 1942 2,302,476 Rubinstein Nov; 17, 1942 2,322,593 Riddington et al. June 22, 1943 2,384,839 Kistner Sept. 18, 1945 2,425,598 Clum' Aug. 12, 1947 2,432,205 Morton Dec. 9, 1947 2,501,028 Charland Mar. 21, 1950 V FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date Great Britain July 14, 1939 

